That's a good question. I've been trying to figure it out myself, spending most of my life crossing borders.

I was born Mitali Bose in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, and always tried to live up to my name—which means “friendly” in the Bangla language. I had to! Because my family moved so much, it was the only way I could make new friends.

By the time I was 11, I'd lived in Ghana, Cameroon, London, New York and Mexico before settling in California just in time for middle school. Yep, I was the new kid again, in seventh grade, the year everybody barely makes it through.

My biggest lifeline during those early years was story. Books were my rock, my stability, my safe place as I navigated the border between California suburbia and the Bengali culture of my traditional home.

After studying political science at Stanford and public policy at U.C. Berkeley, I taught in middle school, high school and college. When I began to write fiction, my protagonists were often—not surprisingly—strong female characters trying to bridge different cultures.

Mitali Perkins is the author of several books for young people, including SECRET KEEPER (Random House), MONSOON SUMMER (Random House), RICKSHAW GIRL (Charlesbridge), and the FIRST DAUGHTER books (Dutton).

ABOUT THE BOOK

Often cited as Maud Hart Lovelace’s (of Betsy-Tacy fame) best novel, Emily of Deep Valley is now back in print, with a new foreword by acclaimed young adult author Mitali Perkins and new archival material about the characters’ real lives.

Emily Webster, an orphan living with her grandfather, is not like the other girls her age in Deep Valley, Minnesota. The gulf between Emily and her classmates widens even more when they graduate from Deep Valley High School in 1912. Emily longs to go off to college with everyone else, but she can’t leave her grandfather. Emily resigns herself to facing a “lost winter,” but soon decides to stop feeling sorry for herself. And with a new program of study, a growing interest in the Syrian community, and a handsome new teacher at the high school to fill her days, Emily gains more than she ever dreamed...

In addition to her beloved Betsy-Tacy books, Maud Hart Lovelace wrote three more stories set in the fictional town of Deep Valley: Winona’s Pony Cart, Carney’s House Party and Emily of Deep Valley. Longtime fans and new readers alike will be delighted to find the Deep Valley books available again for the first time in many years.

Review by Jenna:emily of deep valley was hard for me to get into. i'm not very into classics, unless it's pride and prejudice. which i loved.BUT. it turned into a good story. she's a girl unlike the others, but at the same time just like them. she wants to go to college, but knowing her grandfather is home alone, she doesn't want to leave him. her kind heart repay her, with another......but you'll have to read! i wouldn't recommend this book if you judge by the first couple of chapters, but if you can stick it out, it's a pretty good read.

About the Book:Katie and Claire absolutely love adventures. But even more than adventures, they adore being silly. Thankfully for them, their Mommy loves that too! In their first adventure, Katie and Claire wake up excited for one of Mommy's special "promise days". Unfortunately, they quickly discover that a cloudy, rainy day has put a stop to their plans.

Luckily, Katie quickly thinks of a way to turn the day into one of their most memorable ever! Be sure to join the silly sisters as they embark on many more amazing adventures!

Erica is a mom to two beautiful little girls and also happens to be an author of this adorable childrens book! Just seeing the cover makes me smile and want to read it, doesn't it you!!?? This is the first book for Erica and she already has a 2nd book in mind. (Those Silly Sisters ~ Comfy Cozy Tea Party) She is walking this one step at a time with the Lord and bringing glory and honor to HIM first and foremost! If you would like to purchase this adorable book you can do so here Today Erica will be hosting a giveaway in honor of her daughters birthday. She will be drawing around 7:29 pm. since that is when her precious Brea was born :) How cool is that! If you would like to enter hurry on over to Erica's blog and enter

Friday, 26 November 2010

Hey all you Book Lovers!! Have you heard about the Christmas Book Signing Bash going on Christian Review of Books? The event starts today and goes through December 7th! The books are separated into genres so you can easily go to your favorite and order the book you want or want to send as a gift! They sign and ship them! How awesome is that!!

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Charlene Ann Baumbich is the author of the previous three books in the Partonville series. A popular speaker, journalist, and author, for several years she has lectured to women’s groups and retreats. Baumbich is also an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Today’s Christian Woman, and numerous other publications. She is the author of six nonfiction books of humor and inspiration.

Charlene says: For over two decades of writing and speaking, my passionate pursuit to entertain and rejuvenate using humor (I love to laugh-especially at myself), uncommon wisdom, and passionate insights has been affirmed through countless calls, letters, and evaluation sheets. A reader recently e-mailed, "There is so much depression and sadness in this world. I applaud you for reminding all of us to treasure the moments in our lives, and for encouraging us to find joy in the little things. What you do helps so many to rise above the heaviness of life and live, and laugh, and face another day, so thanks!!!!" That is exactly why I keep doing what I do.

I am a firm believer in the power of story (short or book-length, funny or insightful, real or fiction, on stage or page) to accomplish my purpose, which is to remind you: Don't Miss Your Life! Whether you're tuning into me live or in print, fasten your seatbelt. I promise you a wild, fun, provocative, heart-warming ride.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Josie Brooks, at the age of 47, thought she was leading an enviable single life. A successful consultant, she calls her own shots, goes where the money is, and never needs to compromise. But her precisely managed world begins to falter during a Chicago contract when an economic downturn, a bleeding heart boss, and the loyalty and kindness between endangered employees ding her coat of armor.

Throw in hot flashes, a dose of loneliness, a peculiar longing for intimacy, an

unquenchable thirst—not to mention a mysterious snow globe with a serene landscape, complete with a flowing river and lush greenery that seems to be beckoning her in—and Josie’s buttoned-up life is on the verge of coming completely undone.

Maybe her solitary existence isn’t as fulfilling as she has convinced herself to believe. It will take a few new friends, a mystical encounter, and an unexpected journey to set Josie on her own path to “right-sizing” and making the life changes that really matter. Filled with laugh-out loud moments and a gentle dash of inspiration, Divine Appointments is another heartwarming charmer from a master storyteller.

Friday, 19 November 2010

About the Book:Mike Yankoski did more than just wonder. By his own choice, Mike's life went from upper-middle class plush to scum-of-the-earth repulsive overnight. With only a backpack, a sleeping bag, and a guitar, Mike and his traveling companion, Sam, set out to experience life on the streets in six different cities: Denver; Washington D.C.; Portland; San Francisco; Phoenix; and SanDiego.

For more than five months the pair experienced firsthand the extreme pains of hunger, the constant danger of living on the streets, exhuastion, depression, and social rejection---all by their own choice. They wanted to find out if their faith was real, if they could actually be the Christians they said they were apart from the comforts they'd known....to discover what it feels like to be homeless in America.

Mike and Sam's story is gritty, challenging, and utterly capitvating. What you encounter in these pages will radically alter how you see your world--and may even change your life.

My Review:

I anxiously awaited the arrival of Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski. I sat down in my chair with my warm blanket and cup of coffee and began reading. Very quickly into the book I realized this was a book that would prove to be quite a convicting read.

One Sunday morning Mike Yankoski was in church listening to his pastor preach the Sermon and felt very convicted. Was he really the Christian he claimed to be? Did he ever really fully rely on Christ for EVERYTHING? Was he like Paul...content in all circumstances? So within that hour an idea began to form in Mike's mind. One that would prove to change his life forever!

Mike felt a calling to leave his comfortable life (and bed) and set out to live as a homeless man. During the beginning stages of this "IDEA" he felt it was VERY IMPORTANT to have a "plan." So Mike surrounded himself with mentors, prayer warriors, and met with many people who worked with the homeless as well as those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. He had the support of his Family, well, after much talking and planning, and friends too. One last wish was that he would find someone to take on this journey with him. So he began to pray and ask the Lord for this. He met a man named Sam and instantly felt a connection. Within a short time they both felt the Lord had brought them together to take this journey and so it began.

Both men learned VERY QUICKLY about entitlement, pride and learning what it meant to be really hungry. They said prayers they never imagined before. But more than any of this they learned how to live day to day or even hour to hour relying on Christ and Christ alone. They gained a heart for these men and women who smelled worse than you could ever imagine, spoke more expletives and profanities than they had ever heard one person say in one sentence before. They leaned on Scripture like never before in their lives.

If you think you have a heart for the homeless, this is a must read. If you are feeling called to step up and deepen your Faith this is the book! It will convict you in ways, and inspire you as well! Mike and Sam are two men that have been forever changed. I have been changed just by hearing their story and seeing their hearts for the men and women who were made in our Fathers image!

Thank you Waterbook Mutnomah and the blogging for books program for allowing me this complimentary copy in exchange for this honest review.

Thursday, 18 November 2010

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good.

Prior to launching Dobson Media Group in 1999, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family where she was responsible for the publicity of events, products, films, and TV specials. Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. She has worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for fifteen years including two years as a publicist for The Family Channel.

Melanie and her husband, Jon, met in Colorado Springs in 1997 at Vanguard Church. Jon works in the field of computer animation. Since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. These days they are enjoying their new home in the Pacific Northwest.

Jon and Melanie have adopted their two daughters —Karly (6) and Kinzel (5). When Melanie isn't writing or entertaining their girls, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, traveling, hiking, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Rural America - 1928. After the murder of his partner, Detective Rollin Wells hides away in an Amish home near Sugarcreek, Ohio, to find out who in the police force is

collaborating with Cleveland’s notorious mob. While Rollin searches for answers to his partner’s death, he befriends an elusive young Amish woman named Katie and her young son. As Rollin learns about Katie’s past, he’s shocked at the secret Katie is hiding - a secret that has haunted Rollin for eight years.

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Christmas is coming, but Lena Markham isn't looking forward to it. After being imprisoned on false charges, she's released---penniless and friendless. When her secondhand red coat lands her a job as Mrs. Santa, she thinks her luck is changing. But can she keep her past a secret? A delightful story about fresh starts! 192 pages, hardcover from Revell.

My Review:

This is such a delightful book! Lena Markham has gone to Prison and has lost all hope. Upon her release she learns she has a voice, she has a bright future and a new home but will her past ruin it all? Will she lose her new job as Mrs. Santa and all of her new friends too? Christmas at Harringtons is a precious story of new beginnings and will leave you filled with joy and happiness! Lena's acts of kindness throughout the book will inspire you in so many ways! Even though Lena has little she always found ways to give whether it be her time, her wisdom, her love and even what little amount of money! She was so frugal yet lived so meaningfully! I love all of the characters and how the Lord worked in such wonderful ways through this story! Life in a small town is at times simply wonderful but there can be certain times in which people will be judgmental and it can spread throughout. I love how everyone learned in Christmas at Harringtons about judging one another and appreciated how Melody Carlson wrote this! I really believe this is a book for all ages and wonderful to read during the Christmas Holidays!

Thank you Donna @ Revell for getting those extra copies! Thank you for allowing me to be one of the blessed readers of this book! It in NO WAY altered my opinion. This is my honest review in return of this complimentary book!

Tuesday, 16 November 2010

More Glimpses of Heaven ~ Inspiring True Stories of Hope and Peace at the End of Life's Journey by Trudy Harris, RN is such a wonderful, and inspiring book! Trudy Harris is a retired Hospice nurse and shares with us many beautiful stories of those who are living out their final days here on earth. Trudy shares the stories of some of her patients as well as other medical and hospice professionals. allowing the veil to be drawn back on God's handiwork, while we are both living and dying.

My Review:Trudy shares "There is more to death than simply ceasing to live." This is so clearly illustrated in so many of her stories. Kleenex are a must when reading "More Glimpses of Heaven" and although you are crying, I think it is fair to say you will be praising you Father in Heaven as you see Him in each and every story on these pages.

Thank you Revell Books for allowing me this complimentary copy in exchange for this honest review!

Today is the Release date for Norah Jones newest album ~ FEATURING! I am sooo excited to tell you .... IT.IS.FABULOUS!!

Featuring is a star-studded collection of the multi-platinum selling, multi-Grammy Award winning singer's musical collaborations from the past decade. The 18 songs on the album include cool cameos, collaborations and duets with such legends as Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton, and with 21st Century Icons from OutKast to the Foo Fighters. The tracks on.....Featuring span Norah's entire career and reveal her astonishing musical versatility, from jazz to country, hip-hop to rock.

Featuring is excellent! My favorites on the Track are with Willie Nelson (Baby it's cold outside!!!) and Ray Charles! This is a Wonderful gift to share with someone for the Holidays so get out there and pick up Norah Jones Featuring!

Thank you One2One Network for this complimentary CD in exchange for the honest review!!

If you would like to order it go hereTo LIKE Norah Jones of Facebook go hereFor Norah Jones website go here

Monday, 15 November 2010

Vanessa Miller of Dayton, Ohio, is a best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. Her stage productions include: Get You Some Business, Don’t Turn Your Back on God, and Can’t You Hear Them Crying. Vanessa is currently in the process of turning the novels in the Rain Series into stage productions.

Vanessa has been writing since she was a young child. When she wasn’t writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels, reading great books consumed her free time. However, it wasn’t until she committed her life to the Lord in 1994 that she realized all gifts and anointing come from God. She then set out to write redemption stories that glorify God.

To date, Vanessa has completed the Rain and Storm Series. She is currently working on the Forsaken series, Second Chance at Love series and a single title, Long Time Coming. Vanessa believes that each book will touch readers across the country in a special way. It is, after all, her God-given destiny to write and produce plays and novels that bring deliverance to God’s people. These books have received rave reviews, winning Best Christian Fiction Awards and topping numerous Bestseller’s lists.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Two women from different worlds find hope together.

Faithful Christian Deidre Clark-Morris is a professional career-minded woman with a loving husband, but no children. Kenisha Smalls has lived in poverty all her life. She has three children by three different men and has just been diagnosed with inoperable cervical cancer.

While the meeting between these two women appears accidental, it becomes their catalyst of hope. Neither woman expects the blessing that God has in store for her. While Deidre will guide Kenisha on the path to eternal life with Jesus Christ, Kenisha will teach Deidre how to stand strong against the hard-knocks of life.

Longtime Coming has got to be one of my most favorite reads this year. I simply could not put this down as I had to know how these two women would end up...together with God or apart and having lost all that mattered to both of them. Longtime Coming is an emotional book to say the least. How these women found each other was Divine and now the Lord longs to work in both of their lives. The question is ~ Will they allow HIM to do all that HE desires too? or will they continue to be headstrong thinking their way is best? Being a Mother is so important to both women but only through God will they truly understand the depths and the cost to receive their hearts desire.

I would recommend Longtime Coming to everyone I know!! It is an unbelievable read! Your Faith will be inspired, your heart will be stirred and you will see the beauty of Gods hand work in the lives of sooo many!!

Saturday, 13 November 2010

Have you been “Marked?” The Mend Mark is a mission, a movement, an entire revolution. It is a bracelet meant to remind its wearers of Christ’s love and sacrifice, and its message is the passion of its creator, Hunter Harrison.

The Mend Mark is an innovative and distinctive bracelet that is designed to reflect the scars and nail holes of Jesus. When worn, the band resembles the deep holes of the nail driven into the wrists of Jesus during his crucifixion. By bringing the story of Jesus’ life and death to constant awareness by wearing a bracelet, Mend Mark is meant to powerfully remind wearers of the ultimate act of love Jesus made for all of humankind.

Harrison’s mission is to remind all to remember Christ’s love in both his life and death. But more than only a poignant recollection, the Mend Mark is meant to inspire and motivate wearers to live a life of service. Harrison strives to bring people together around the simplicity and power of love as lived by Jesus. But this is no example of passive love. The Mend Mark calls individuals in all walks of life to love with a profound sincerity and commitment great enough to change a neighborhood, a community, a world.

Harrison leads this call to love and sacrifice by example and joins hands with each Mend Mark bracelet purchaser to take the first step in global change. A portion of each bracelet sold goes to support Living Water International, an organization combating the clean water crisis victimizing over one billion people worldwide. Each $5,000 given will result in one well drilled, providing a community with clean water.But wearers should be prepared to be seen. Unique in its design, the Mend Mark is sure to be noticed and gives wearers an opportunity to share the story of the profound love of Jesus for each and every person. “It was important to me that the design was simple and generic enough that the observer had to ask about it to know what it meant. But I also wanted it to appear distinctive enough that it sparked curiosity,” reveals creator Hunter Harrison. “I wanted it to require the wearer of the product to engage in conversation about the love of Christ (and hopefully show that love to others) instead of just letting the product talk for them.”Launched in late 2009 after a year and a half of packaging, material, and design development by Harrison, the bracelet has been sold across the United States, Canada, and the UK and has been featured in retail stores as well. The Mend Mark bracelet movement has grown to further fame after being worn during performances by American Idol winner Lee Dewyze, Idol runner up Siobhan Magnus, Decifer Down, Israel Houghton & New Breed, Pillar, and Finding Favour, to name a few. Says Harrison, “I want it to be more than just another bracelet; I want it to represent a movement.” Based on the way things are going, a movement is exactly what it is becoming.

I have had some wonderful opportunities myself since wearing this bracelet to share about the Lord and all HE has done in my life! I know you will too! That is why I am so excited to share that the Wonderful People from B&B Publishing have allowed me to give one of these bracelets to you! In order to enter the giveaway

1) be a follower of Heart of a Bookworm2) leave a comment on this post3) post about this giveaway or Facebook

If you just can't wait til the contest is over you can order these bracelets for $9.99 @ www.markmend.com

Thursday, 11 November 2010

After completing a master's in Creative Writing and working as a visiting instructor at Miami University in Ohio, Bethany Pierce now lives with her husband in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she is a member of the McGuffey Art Center and continues to write. Her first book, Feeling for Bones, was one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2007.

ABOUT THE BOOK

With rejections piling up, she could use just a little inspiration...

Amy Gallagher is an aspiring writer who, after countless rejections, has settled for a career as an English professor in small-town Ohio just to pay the bills. All her dreams suddenly start to unravel as rejections pile up--both from publishers and her boyfriend.

But just as Amy fears her life is stuck in a holding pattern, she meets the mysterious, attractive, and unavailable Eli. She struggles to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as staying true to her faith becomes unexpectedly complicated.

When secrets, tragedy, and poor decisions cause rifts in Amy's relationships, she must come to terms with who she's become, her unrealized aspirations for her life, and the state of her faith. Can she dare to hope that she will find love and fulfillment despite it all?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Amy Inspired, go HERE.MY REVIEW:So an obsession with words in my kind of thing. I LOVE learning new words & this girl, was my kind of girl. She's a writer, with hopes, dreams, and plenty of rejection. She can't seem to find a loop whole anywhere. Not even in her family. Her love life also seems to be total rejection. BUT, then perfect, amazing Eli steps in the picture.And as every girl knows, the amazing, handsome, perfect guys are ALWAYS taken. Am i right ladies? I think so. Anyway,Amy must choose to follow her heart & do something she never does, or keep on the path she's on. Will the rejection and unavailable Eli be too much for her and fall apart? Or will she follow her dreams and find out what she's been missing all her life, success, love & acceptance........YOU GOTTA READ! :)

Wednesday, 10 November 2010

About the Book:For over two thousand years to book of Proverbs has provided wise counsel and spiritual direction for Gods People. The short,rapid style and the piercing truths of Proverbs penetrate the readers hearts, challenging them to align their lives with the wisdom they proclaim. Roaring Lions, Cracking Rocks and other Gems from Proverbs brings the ancient Proverbs into contemporary focus by applying their truths to modern situations. Marriage, Parenting, Friendship, Work, Money and other topics are brought under the scrutiny of this ancient wisdom. Each chapter in Roaring Lions is a short essay on a specific Proverb that makes Gods Word to you come alive with fresh relevance.

About the Author:

Warren Baldwin lives in Ulysses, KS with his wife Cheryl. They have three children: Wes, Jenny, and Kristin. Warren attended Freed-Hardeman University, Harding Graduate School, and Abilene Christian University. He and Cheryl have ministered with churches in Florida, Wyoming, and Kansas. The Baldwins enjoy sports, Bible camps and traveling.

When my friend and fellow blogger Warren Baldwin announced the release of his book "Roaring Lions, Cracking Rocks and Other Gems from Proverbs" I knew it was a book I HAD to HAVE!! If you have ever read Warren's blog you know He is Full of Wisdom himself so I KNEW we were in for a treat in reading his new book! Boy was I right!

In making a plan for my Bible reading as a new Christian, It was suggested to me to read one Proverb a day since there is exactly one Proverb for each day of the month! Gods Word can say one thing on one day and something totally different the next!! I have never thought "Oh I've already read that Proverb" or that Scripture. Warren's book Roaring Lions, Cracking Rocks is excellent and I guess for me, would best be described as a Proverbs Devotional! There are different "sections" with about 15 readings on each section. Topics range from Parents, Children, Discipline, Gods Will, Relationships and more! Warren shares from personal experiences as well as Biblical examples and how they relate to Proverbs.

We all know that Proverbs teaches us how we should live our lives on a daily basis. Warren writes in a way that makes you feel like HE is speaking right to you, Not at you but specifically TO you !! I really appreciated this and I know I will continue to glean from Roaring Lions, Cracking Rocks for years to come!!

I would recommend this to anyone and everyone! Definitely 5 out of 5 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Thank you Warren for allowing me your book for review ! It is one I will cherish ALWAYS!

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

Alice J. Wisler is an author, public speaker, advocate, and fundraiser. She has been a guest on several radio and TV programs to promote her self-published cookbooks, Slices of Sunlight and Down the Cereal Aisle. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite University and has traveled the country in jobs that minister to people. Alice was raised in Japan and currently resides in Durham, North Carolina.

Facts about Alice

* Born in Osaka, Japan and lived in Japan for 18 years

* Went to Kyoto International School and Canadian Academy

* Majored in Social Work and graduated in 1983 from Eastern Mennonite University

* Worked at a group home for disadvantaged kids outside of Philadelphia

* Taught English and Culture Orientation at a refugee camp in the Philippines

* Taught English as a Second Language in Japan

* Speaks and teaches on Writing the Heartache

* Has three kids on earth, and one in Heaven

* Recently got married to Carl on 2/7/09

ABOUT THE BOOK

There are two things twenty-nine-year-old Jackie Donovan asks God for: an honest, wonderful man to marry, and to own a bed-and-breakfast in the Outer Banks region. In the meantime, Jackie works for Lighthouse Views magazine, writing articles about other local business owners, and intrepidly goes on the blind dates set up by her well-meaning but oh-so-clueless relatives.

There's one specific property Jackie dreams of purchasing: the Bailey Place, a fabulous old home where Jackie spent many happy childhood afternoons, a place that has now fallen into disrepair because of its outrageous price tag.

When Jackie meets handsome Davis Erickson, who holds the key to the Bailey Place, Jackie is sure God has answered both her prayers. But as Jackie learns some disturbing details about Davis's past, she begins to question her own motivation. Will she risk her long-held dreams to find out the truth?

Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler is an excellent read! Jackie Donovan is a young woman who longs to own a Bed & Breakfast and is determined to do whatever it takes to fulfill her dream! Will she find love as well as achieving her dream? Minnie, who is Jackie's best friend and roommate, also shares the dream of co-owning the Bailey House B&B. Then there is Davis Erickson, the man who holds the key to the Bailey House. He is a young, handsome, and available. Will he capture Jackie's heart? Will he find the perfect person to run the Bailey House B&B the way it used to be? You will have to pick this one up to find out!!

I hope you will! Hatteras Girl is a wonderful book! I give this ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Monday, 8 November 2010

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

***Special thanks to Cathy Hickling of Whitaker House for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brian Wills is an author, missionary, conference speaker, and former tennis pro, best known for his miraculous healing from a rare, deadly cancer known as Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He is the first and only person to date to survive the disease after being diagnosed in its advanced stages; he went on to compete on the pro tennis circuit, and later serve as a national coach and executive director for the U. S. Tennis Association. He and his wife, Beth, founded Healing For the Nations and currently serve as missionaries. The Wills’s have four children and live near Richmond, Virginia.

My hand was moist on the racquet as I slammed an ace across the net and watched my opponent scramble, almost tripping as he missed the ball. At twenty-two, I had almost sixteen years of experience on the tennis court. My serve proved they were years well spent. So did the record I held when I graduated from Drury University: 121 wins—more than any other player in the school’s history at that time. Now, as the assistant coach at the University of Richmond, I was training hard for my upcoming trip to Europe, where I would play on the professional satellite circuit.

Perspiration matted my shirt to my back as I sprinted to hit a backhand across the net. In mid-stride, I caught my breath as something like liquid fire snaked across my abdomen. Sweat dotted my upper lip, not from exertion, but from the mind-numbing pain that seared me, licking my insides to a slow burn. I faltered—my steps unsteady, and my hand trembling on the racquet. Gritting my teeth, I decided to take a break and sat in the locker room with my head in my hands. What’s happening to me?

My doctor had said the occasional bouts of pain were the result of overtraining, so I’d cut back on my training schedule. I made sure I got plenty of rest and ate well. But it didn’t help. When I least expected it, the fire still roared to life and caught my breath away. Since the pain was in my lower abdomen, close to my bladder, I’d gone to see a urologist.

"It must be in your head," he’d said, dismissing me.

He was wrong. He had to be. There was nothing psychological about the pain that drove me off the court that day. Thankfully, when the pain left my body, it disappeared from my mind. Weeks passed in a blur of activity as I prepared for my flight to Europe. This would be the fulfillment of a lifetime of dreaming and training. I refused to let it be marred by the sudden flames of fire.

Sidelined

My flight was scheduled to depart on Super Bowl Sunday, the last Sunday in January 1987. That week, snow fell in piles so deep that the world looked like it had been iced with a thick layer of whipped topping. I waded out into the snow and let my shovel slice through the drifts that covered the driveway. Bundled against the freezing wind, I worked up a sweat, and, by the time I’d finished clearing away the snow, my back ached, strained by the repetitive work. I fell into an exhausted sleep Friday night but woke around midnight with chills, fever, and pain. Saturday morning, I went to see my family doctor.

"Your blood count is alarming," he said, frowning. "I’m going to admit you to the hospital for further tests."

"But my flight leaves tomorrow!"

It appeared that I would not be on it. My family rallied around me at the hospital. "Nothing’s changed except the date you leave," they assured me. "We’ll reschedule your flight."

After being admitted to Chippenham Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, I curled up in a fetal position on the bed in my private room and clenched my jaw against the unrelenting back pain. Outside, snow and ice covered the parking lot. Inside, I shook with chills, despite the warmth of the room. My stomach felt full and distended.

Over the next nine days, I suffered through a sigmoidoscopy, a CT scan, a needle biopsy, and multiple blood tests. I was stunned when the tests revealed that my right kidney had stopped working. No wonder my back was hurting! The pain hadn’t come from shoveling snow or my training schedule.

"You may have a kidney stone," the doctor said, hazarding a guess.

Each day, family and friends showed up at the hospital to encourage me. At night, when they all went home, and the hustle and bustle of the hospital dimmed with the lights, I lay in bed and pondered my situation. I was a twenty-two-year-old athlete in excellent physical condition. It couldn’t be anything serious.

Could it?

The Sentence

On February 6, the ninth day of my hospitalization, my parents, brother, sister, aunt, and uncle were in my room laughing and telling stories when my doctor arrived.

"I have some really bad news," he said, sorrow dimming his kind eyes. "Brian has a mass in his abdomen the size of a golf ball, which has been diagnosed as Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare, fatal disease usually found in African children. It progresses very quickly, and there are only three hospitals in the world that treat it. I’m trying to get you into the closest one: the National Institute of Health, NIH, in Bethesda, Maryland."

We must have looked as baffled as we felt.

"Do you have any questions?" the doctor probed.

We couldn’t think of a thing to say except that we wanted to go home for the weekend and pray.

"That’s fine," the doctor said, "but I must warn you—this is a very fast-growing tumor. It’s been known to kill children in a day."

Taking a Stand

The doctor’s words hung over the room like a death sentence long after he’d gone. The once-smiling faces of my family members looked stricken. I reeled inside, trying to regain my bearings. How could I have a serious illness? I was young and healthy. My whole life stretched before me like a promise.

Some of my family already understood what I had yet to grasp: the tumor was malignant, and I was fighting for my life. I’d been hit hard by a foe called Burkitt’s lymphoma.

Our family’s quick response to go home for the weekend to pray came as no surprise. We’d always been a close Christian family. Just as my father and grandfather had passed their love of sports down to me, my parents had passed down to us kids a spiritual heritage. They had lived their faith in front of us; they weren’t ashamed to let it show. I’d grown up attending the local church and traipsing along with them when they made hospital and nursing home visits. My parents also ministered to young people, and it wasn’t unusual for groups of up to forty of them to gather at our house, worshipping God until the wee hours of the morning.

The gospel I’d witnessed since I was a child was not a weak one. I had attended healing services, and I’d seen blind eyes opened. I’d witnessed deaf ears hear again. I’d seen polio victims completely healed. I’d been instantly healed of many childhood injuries, and my parents had dug into spiritual healing a few years before when my mother had been diagnosed with allergies. Later, my father received a diagnosis of cancer. Through it all, we learned that God’s Word, written in the Bible, was alive and powerful. We’d also learned the power of our own words. By believing God and confessing His Word over their situations, both of my parents had been healed.

I didn’t know what Burkitt’s lymphoma was, but healing had always come easy for me. I left the hospital ready to receive a miracle.

At home that weekend, as I tried to sleep, I realized that what my doctor had said was true: I was running out of time. Lying on my side, I could see the cancerous mass—now much larger than a golf ball—move as I turned.

Open Doors

While I was trying to receive my healing, my doctor was doing everything possible to get me into the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He was told that there was a six-month wait.

A few months earlier, my doctor had attended a medical conference. During the conference, a physician sitting beside him had introduced himself and given my doctor his card. "I’m at the National Institute of Health," he’d said. "If you run across someone with a very fast-growing cancer, like Burkitt’s lymphoma, give me a call. That’s my specialty."

On Monday, my doctor called this man, and every door to the NIH swung open for us.

On Tuesday, my parents drove me to Maryland for a consultation. The National Institute of Health was an impressive complex of distinguished-looking buildings housing the newest technology, as well as personnel doing cutting-edge research. By the time we arrived, the pain was so severe I couldn’t walk; my family carried me inside.

Ushered into a small room, I was examined by Dr. Young, one of the world’s leading authorities on Burkitt’s lymphoma. Afterward, he shook his head. "I don’t think there’s anything I can do for you," he said. "You’re too far gone."

Too far gone?

Beaten at the Game of Life

The tumor that had been the size of a golf ball on Friday now measured almost ten inches in diameter. The cancer had spread to my lungs, liver, and most of the organs of my body. "Today is Tuesday, and your son won’t be alive by Friday," the doctor explained to my parents. "I’ll admit him to the hospital and keep him as comfortable as possible." He stepped out of the room to make the necessary arrangements.

I felt like I’d been shoved over a precipice and was hurtling toward destruction at breakneck speed. I didn’t know how to stop my fall. My life had spiraled out of control.

It was my mother’s words that slowed my descent and set me on solid ground again. "No, God’s Word says that by Jesus’ stripes, Brian is healed. ‘Let God be true, and every man a liar.’" (See Isaiah 53:5 kjv; Romans 3:4 niv.)

"Let God be true, and every man a liar," we all agreed.

"We’re going to make our stand right now and believe God, no matter what the doctors say," she announced.

In my mind’s eye, I saw a football game in progress. One team was whipping the other when I heard a two-minute warning. I realized that, so far, my team was being beaten by Burkitt’s lymphoma, and there was a two-minute warning in my life. The game wasn’t over yet, but I knew that without a miracle, I would never make it out of the hospital alive.

My Review:

10 Hours to Live is a MUST READ! This is the story of a 22-year old given a death sentence from one of the deadliest cancers, Burkitt's lymphoma as well as the story of the only living survivor of this cancer. It happens to be Brian Wills who through his faith in the LORD overcame and survived this horrific cancer! 10 hours to Live will inspire you! It will leave you fired up and encouraged! When we stand on the Promises of God and see HIM show up in a Powerful way, our faith is renewed and if your needing a Faith Booster then go out and get 10 hours to Live!! I recommend this book to everyone!!

Friday, 5 November 2010

Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town's scenic bike trail.

ABOUT THE BOOK

It's Christmastime at the Brenneman Bed & Breakfast, and everyone is excited about closing down for the holiday.

Anna and Henry will be celebrating their first Christmas as a married couple, and for Katie and Jonathan Lundy, it's their first Christmas with baby Stefan. Winnie and Samuel Miller plan to stop by as well for a wonderful two weeks of family and rest.

But when two unexpected visitors show up, hoping to stay for Christmas, the family must test their commitment to hospitality. Levi is a widower who lost his wife four years ago and can't bear the thought of another Christmas alone. And Melody is a young pregnant woman who won't open up about how she ended up on her own at Christmas at almost nine months pregnant.

Anna, who knows a thing or two about keeping secrets, doesn't trust her, and strives to find out the truth about these two strangers who have disrupted their holiday. But as the Christmas spirit descends on them all, as well as snow that traps them in the inn, a healing and hopefulness takes over, allowing new relationships to be built, and the boundaries of family to be extended.

This is the sweetest book! I fell in love with the story and each and everyone who made it come alive! I love the lessons that are learned and how I could relate to each one of them! I think at times we are all selfish or carry burdens that are way too heavy for us but no matter what God is always there willing to forgive and offer HIS Grace, if only we will surrender to HIM!In Grace you will see these examples and so much more! This is a book for ALL ~ young and old!

Thursday, 4 November 2010

This is a very special review because I can completely relate with the heart of the matter in this book, "Letters to Ethan." Author, Tom McQueen has written this book for the sole purpose of sharing his heart, his life, his thoughts, and even his past mistakes and experiences with his Grandson in the hope of him learning and gleening from each page. In this book Mr. McQueen shares on such topics as Faith, Greed, Friendship, Risks, Goals, Respect and soo much more!

Each topic is a wealth of knowledge and a life time of experience. You can just feel the love in each letter and on every page that Mr. McQueen has for his grandson but also for those who are reading it. It will inspire you to think about doing something similar for your own children and/or grandchildren! It will encourage any new parents to ponder these things as you begin your journey with your children!

One of my favorite quotes from the chapter on Sacrifice (pg 122)

"What's really interesting, Ethan, is that the things that I thought would bring me the most satisfaction in life were not that rewarding when I actually acquired them or experienced them. Whether the things that I sought were tangible or intangible made no difference." "On the other hand, as I look back on my life now after all these years, I can see clearly that anytime I found myself in a position to make a sacrifice for a person or an ideal that mattered, my sense of self-worth and personal satisfaction seemed to be enriched a hundredfold." "Not only that, the positive results associated with successfully undertaking my sacrifice produced a sense of personal well-being that far outlasted the happiness I had experienced in acquiring any material possession or in receiving a gift."

I HIGHLY recommend Letters To Ethan to anyone and everyone but especially to those who are raising children! This is a wonderful gift for any new parents to be!!

Thank you Mr. McQueen for allowing me this wonderful opportunity to review your book and allowing me this complimentary copy in exchange for this honest review! What a wonderful gift and legacy you have given your family! Bless you!